The one person who has more illusions than the dreamer is the man of action - Oscar Wilde

Portsmouth 9:45
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Devia Orbis office on Diagon Alley was just a shop. Curses! Andromeda had gone all the way to Portsmouth where the offices were on a big boat. The muggles could not see it. Desks stretched one behind the other like cabins missing walls. The real walls were covered in maps. Photographs. There was rich color and plants everywhere you looked. It smelled of sea water, tar, exotic coffee and spices. A large bunch of red balloons sat on someone's desk. A witch led Andromeda through. Her guide was barefoot and bracelets rattled round her ankles. She looked dressed for summer not February. Andromeda could not wonder how she girl had not got frostbite.

"So this is Rosetta. She's the editor for your bro's stuff. Rosetta this is Andie. She wants to speak to you about Ri. She's his 'sister'." The wink her barefoot introducer gave made Andie suspicious. How many girls had been here before asking about her big brother? Andie frowned. Turned her attention to Rosetta. The witch at the desk was thin and a travel-worn face. Rosetta's hands bore an oversized turquoise ring. Her tinted glasses disappeared into a untamed grey brown mane that reached her waist. In contrast she wore a smart white shirt and tailored beige trousers. She looked like an eternal gap year student shoved into publishing.

"Andromeda Gamp." Andromeda introduced herself. "Auror Gamp." She added for good measure. "I am concerned for the whereabouts of my brother. Orion Gamp. He is one of your employees."

"Well then you should know as good as I do that Ri is an untamed spirit. Is this like the Venezuela thing?" Rosetta slipped her glasses off her face. "Because I told him we do not have unlimited get out of jail free cards in London."

"Maybe." Andromeda said quickly. She had all but forgotten about her brother getting trapped in Venezuela. But now it was coming in useful. "When did you last hear from him?"

"This morning." Rosetta blinked. "He sent some drafts with that Bengal eagle-owl." The editor looked up and pointed out the owl. It was fast asleep. On a beam above what looked like two indoor palms.

"Show me."
"I am pointing right at it."
"No. What he sent." Rosetta laughed alone.

"Here you go. There was no ransom note on the top though." She put her glasses back on. Sat back in her chair. Watched Andromeda. Andromeda scrutinized the pages. This was her brother's handwriting. No doubt about it. She sniffed the paper. Looked closely at the paper.
"This came by long distance owl?" Rosetta nodded. "Today."

"Look." Rosetta leaned forward. She lowered her voice. "If it is one of his psycho ex girlfriends who has got you looking for him.... we know how to deal with them-."
"It is not." Andromeda cut her off. "You will contact me if he owls again. Or turns up here." Andromeda thrust the papers back. Her Auror calling card on top.

-END-